34^ Grapes in 1869. 



of Nature, I may instance a seedling I have raised from this variety. It is 

 a grape smaller than the Clinton ; white^ sour, and worthless. The foliage 

 is an exact reproduction of that of the parent plant. I may add, that 

 the strongest-growing seedling I raised this year was from the Eumelan ; 

 and the healthiest, in a bed where three-quarters mildewed, was from the 

 White Riesling. 



Weehawken. — A peculiar and noticeable vine, of slender growth, and 

 somewhat foreign aspect. Did not mild^iw. I should be glad to hear 

 about this variety from some one who has fruited it. 



I have used sulphur considerably on mildewed vines this summer. I 

 think its effect was marked on Delawares, but elsewhere not so plain. I 

 could not see that very frequent and abundant applications to a bed of 

 mixed seedlings stayed the ravages of mildew at all. 



I may note here, that, though I have not yet learned to graft a vine, I have 

 succeeded admirably this year in inarching the young shoots of vines that 

 grow near each other. The ease and certainty of this method of union 

 give it a claim upon the attention of amateurs at least. All that is needed 

 is to shave off the bark and a very little of the wood of two young shoots 

 on neighboring vines, and then to bind the cut surfaces tightly together. I 

 prefer twine for this, as it contracts when it gets wetted. In three weeks, 

 they will partly unite ; and the shoot that furnishes the scion may be cut 

 half off bdozv, and the stock wholly o^ above, the juncture of the two. In 

 six weeks the union is complete, and the scion may be severed from its 

 parent vine. 



I picked the few rose-bugs that showed themselves this season ; but, in 

 the neighboring town of Medfield, Mr. Edward Sewell lost his whole crop 

 on an acre and more of Concords by neglecting to destroy these abomina- 

 ble pests. 



The encouragement of this favorable season was certainly needed by 

 the faint-hearted ; and I believe that all grape-cultivators hereabout feel 

 more enthusiastic about the future than ever before. 



Oct. II, 186'). 



